Couple who booked 51 back-to-back cruises to avoid a retirement home say it’s not as expensive as you’d think

Australian retirees Marty and Jess Ansen have booked 51 back-to-back cruises, choosing to live on a cruise ship over a traditional retirement home.

What started as a single holiday turned into a nonstop ocean adventure lasting more than 455 days.

The couple says the cruise lifestyle is not only more enjoyable, but also more affordable than a retirement community.

With meals, housekeeping, and entertainment all included, they’ve found a way to turn their golden years into a permanent vacation.

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The duo has become celebrities onboard the ship

The couple has spent decades cruising but made the decision to live on a cruise ship after Australia’s Covid-19 lockdowns left them feeling like they’d lost valuable years of their retirement.

“Eventually I said to my agent, ‘Look, whatever comes, book it’”, Marty said.

Since then, the pair has fully embraced ship life: dancing daily, dining buffet-style, socializing with fellow travelers, and exploring the world together.

With all meals, housekeeping, and entertainment included, they’ve said goodbye to cooking, cleaning, and most daily chores altogether.

Far from being anonymous passengers, Marty and Jess have become minor celebrities on board.

“They welcome the captains rather than the other way round,” joked ship manager Ren van Rooyen, who added that other passengers often request to meet the famous Aussie duo.

Crew members have even celebrated milestones with the couple, including a birthday bash for Jess, who they affectionately consider part of the ship’s extended family.

To balance out their buffet indulgences and evening drinks, the pair starts each morning with a lively game of ping pong.

Their days are filled with the kind of leisurely lifestyle that most people only dream about.

Marty admitted that after so long at sea, they’re not sure they remember how to make a bed or cook a meal.

Back-to-back cruises are becoming more common

Though they plan a short stint on dry land in a few months, their next adventure is already lined up: a year-long cruise aboard the Crown Princess.

And they’re not alone.

For instance, a retired woman recently sold everything she owned to live on a cruise ship, saying it was cheaper than living in California.

Another woman recently shared how much it costs to live on a cruise, breaking it down in detail.

For many, going on back-to-back cruises seems to make more financial sense than living in cities with a high cost of living.

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